Coroner’s office spokesman Brian Elias said his office had been notified by law enforcement of the death of Bennington (41) on Thursday morning. Elias said the death was being handled as an apparent suicide.

Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda has said he is “shocked and heartbroken” at Bennington’s death.

Shinoda tweeted: “Shocked and heartbroken, but it’s true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.”

Bennington had a history of alcohol and drug abuse. He had spoken openly in the past about his struggles when Linkin Park first found success in 2000 with the album Hybrid Theory. In 2011, he said he had been sober for six years.

Bennington’s death came a week before the band was due to kick off the US leg of its tour on July 27th in Mansfield, Massachusetts.